Slat-repairing device



J. B. LESAGE.

' SLAT REPAIRING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man JUNE 4. 1920.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

A 'UNTEDJ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

V.TOEN E. LESAGE, or MoEErs, MINNESOTA.

Be it known that I, JOHN B. LESAGE, a citizen of t-heUnited States, residing at Mor- Y ris, in the county of Stevens and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slat-Repairing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device for facilitating the repair of broken slats on the conveyer belts or aprons of binders, although the invention is not necessarily limited to such use and is equally adaptable to repair of slats on various other aprons.

Ordinarily, slats are constructed of wood and due .to their inherent fragile character are often broken. According to the present invention, such broken slats may be quickly repaired without removal from the apron by the application thereto of a repair strip suitably formed to partially embrace the broken strip and arranged to avoid contact with the flexible apron so as not to impose unnecessary wear thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of an endless conveyer illustrating the invention applied to use thereon.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the ieXible apron of the conveyer illustrating the repairing device applied to one of the slats thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a similar transverse sectional view through a slat illustrating the manner of repairing the latter subsequent to its removal from the apron.

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a broken slat illustraing the repairing device applied thereto, an

Fig. 5 represents an enlarged plan view of the blank from which the device is 'constructed. Y

Referring to the drawing in detail, where* iny similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated an elongated blank 0f flat sheet metal forming the body 5 of Specication of LetterslfPatent. y

SEAT-NEPAIEING DEVICE.

1920. Serial No. '386,495.

the repair device which is preferably constructed of metal of suitable thickness to lend requlsite strength and rigidity to the device when appliedy to use. .foldedralong two spaced longitudinal lines indicated by the dotted lines 6 in Fig. 5, the linesof fold being separated a distance opproxlmately equal tothe widthof the slat 7 to which the device is designed for appli,- cation.

By turning the portions of the blank laterally. along the lines 6, retaining flanges 8 are provided which embrace the opposite side edges of the slat 7 and effectively maintain vthe broken terminals thereof in proper alinement. The body or that portion of the device lying intermediate the flanges 8 is formed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the blank with a plurality of apertures 9 adapted to receive rivets or equivalent fastening elements 10 which are also passed through the slat thereby retaining the repair device in position thereon and preventing relative movement of the broken pieces of the slat.

In conventional types of conveyers for binders and similar machines, the apron 11 is constructed of fabric or other material having proper flexible qualities and in order to prevent such wear as would be incurred by frictional contact of the edges of the flanges 8 with the fabric of the apron, said flanges are preferably of less width than the thickness of the strip 7 to which the repair device is applied. In this manner, the edges of the repair device are maintained in ratentednug. A1e, y1921.

The blank is spaced relation to the apron thereby elimi- I nating wear.

In use, when a slat of the apron is broken at any point intermediate its ends, the repair device is so applied that the adjacent ends of the broken pieces of the slat are embraced by the body and flanges 8. The rivets 10 are subsequently inserted through the apertures 9 in the body of the repair device and through registering apertures formed in the broken pieces of the slat 7. By subsequently upsetting the terminals of the rivets the broken pieces of the slat are permanently and rigidly connected. If preferred, the rivets 10 may be extended `entirely through the apron 1l or, if preferred, the broken pieces of the slat may be removed from the apron and the repair device applied to the broken pieces of the slat independently of the apron, as suggested in Fig. 3 and the slat subsequently reapplied to the apron.

The preferred embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claim may be made in the construction without departingfrom the principle of thepinvention or sacricing any of its advantages. Y

What l claim is As an article of manufacture, a repair device `for broken wooden slats of endless conveyer aprons comprising a substantially elongated body of sheet metal lformed to provide oppositely depending side flanges adapted to embrace the opposite sides of ,of the edges of thefianges with the apron during the travel of the latter7 the connected portion of' the body being provided with sets of spaced apertures disposed on the lon- Agitudinal center thereof, one set to each side of the transverse center of the same, whereby theY fastening devices used may be properly inserted through the body with respect to the line of the break between the parts of the broken Slat.

In testimony whereof, I aliX my signature hereto.

JOHN B. LESAGE. 

